South Korea takes down illegal gambling ring, arrests suspected mastermind

A large-scale illegal gambling ring was taken down by law enforcement in South Korea. The massive criminal organization involved a whopping 70bn Korean won, or approximately $47.7m and resulted in the arrest of nearly a dozen suspected members.

On Monday, the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed that following an investigation, it has identified eight members of an illegal gambling organization that operated across the country, a report by The Chosun Daily confirms. Taking action against the criminal organization, law enforcement arrested seven suspected members, all involved in the operation of two illegal gambling websites. The group is suspected of offering illegal gambling online, such as slots and baccarat games, via access to two illegal gambling websites and establishments described as adult PC cafes. According to law enforcement, the illegal gambling operation processed a total of 70bn Korean won. The actions of law enforcement resulted in the seizure of 62m Korean won ($42,200) in cash, which, according to police, was proceeds from the illicit activity. Moreover, law enforcement seized three luxury watches, one of which was a Rolex.

The latest operation comes after an extensive investigation that started in June 2025. Law enforcement's investigation uncovered that the group operated two illegal gambling websites. What's known so far is that the illegal gambling websites operated between January 2020 and February 2026, processing tens of billions of Korean won. The extensive probe saw law enforcement analyze communication logs from more than 100 accounts for months. The arrests ultimately resulted in the takedown of the criminal group and besides members, the mastermind of the organization was also detained. During the investigation, police found that an illegal gambling syndicate had established a complex structure. This included members tasked with operating and managing the illegal gambling websites, dealing with deposits and withdrawals, money laundering, customer services and even promotions. Each of the members of the criminal group received a different percentage depending on their involvement and the wagers from the customers. Some of the members used phones and bank accounts belonging to third parties in an effort to conceal their identity and the unlawful activities they engaged in.